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History of the Peloponnesian War (Paperback)

by Thucydides (Author), Richard Crawley (Translator) "THUCYDIDES, an Athenian, wrote the history of the war between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians, beginning at the moment that it broke out, and believing..." (more)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Dover Publications Inc.; New edition edition (26 Nov 2004)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0486437620
  • ISBN-13: 978-0486437620
  • Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 13.2 x 2.3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 107,755 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Synopsis
One of the world's great history books and the first true historical narrative of Western literature, this chronicle resonates with tales of heroism and villainy, deeds of courage and desperation and the eternal folly of human conflict. The author served as an Athenian general in the disastrous 27-year struggle between Athens and Sparta, yet his accounts are scrupulously impartial and accurate. Unabridged republication of the edition published by E.P.Dutton & Co., New York, 1910. 5 maps.
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THUCYDIDES, an Athenian, wrote the history of the war between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians, beginning at the moment that it broke out, and believing that it would be a great war and more worthy of relation than any that had preceded it. Read the first page
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25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An alternative view from Herodotus of 'history', 26 Jul 2006
By Roman Clodia (London) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: History of the Peloponnesian War (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
Thucydides follows self-consciously on from Herodotus as a 'historian' but takes a very different tack. Partly this is due to their place in history: Herodotus was the product of a triumphant Athens leading the mediterannean world after shockingly defeating the huge Persian invasion of Greece, while Thucydides lives through the decline of Athens from her high point under Pericles through to her final defeat under Sparta. A critic of Athenian democracy and the rise of the demagogues, Thucydides is also a participant in the 37 years long war, as strategos (General) who was defeated at Amphipolis and exiled from Athens. What is amazing is his ability to stay detached and analytical, despite his personal involvement in events.
This is a heart-breaking story of the decline of a great city-state through her own folly, and a good antidote to all the people who still claim classical Athens as the high point of civilisation - yes, there was a lot that was great, but Athens was also guilty of horrendous massacres, putting whole islands of fellow Greeks to death or to be sold into slavery.
A wonderful 'must read' for anyone interested in ancient history, politics, democracy, war, and human nature - and it also includes a portrait of the maverick, brilliant and ruthless Alcibiades and shows him to be a product of his times.
Unmissable.
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29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Cannot recommend this book too highly, 11 Jun 2006
By Marshall Lord (Whitehaven, UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: The History of the Peloponnesian War (Wordsworth Classics of World Literature) (Paperback)
Who should read this book ?

* Anyone who wants to understand how free societies can descend into tyranny:

* Anyone who does not realise that merely holding free elections is not enough to preserve a society worth living in, especially if you don't combine democracy with the rule of law:

* Anyone who needs to understand how two or more nations can stumble into a war devastating to both:

* Anyone who imagines that genocide and ethnic cleansing were limited to our own era:

* Anyone interested in reading one of the first works of true history ever written.

In other words this history of a terrible war nearly two and half thousand years ago is as relevant in the first decade of the third millenium as it was when it was written, four centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ.

If I had to nominate one historical work for my son and daughter to read, I would think carefully between this volume, Suetonius's "The 12 Caesars", and Herodotus's "Histories", but Thucydides "History of the Peloponnesian war" would edge it.

The Wordsworth Classics version includes an introduction by Lorna Hardwick which I found most helpful in understanding the importance of Thucydides and the context in which his writing needs to be understood.

You cannot take every word in this book for granted, but Herodotus and Thucydides came closer to an objective search for truth than any writer whose works survive and was writing before them or for centuries afterwards.

The story of the tragic wars, initially between Athens and Sparta, which decimated Greek civilisation between 431BC and 404 BC is absolutely gripping, and Thucydides brings the story to life for me.

This translation by Richard Crawley was written more than 130 years ago, and slightly revised by R.C. Feetham in 1903. Despite being more than a century old, I found the translation to be accessible and easy to understand. I understand from those who know more about history than I do that Crawley's translation is now preferred by current experts to the rival Victorian translation by Benjamin Jowett which provides more of a general sense of Thucydides' writing but is less good at conveying the detail.

The most irritating thing about Thucydides book is that it stops suddently in the middle of a sentence in 411 BC, shortly after the overthrow of democracy in Athens and the Athenian naval victory at the Dardanelles. E.g. well before the actual resolution of the conflict between Athens and Sparta, let alone the subsequent struggle between both cities and Thebes.

If, like me, this leaves you wanting to learn more about what happened next, your best bet is to read Xenophon's "A history of my times" which was deliberately written to follow on from Thucydides, to such an extent that it actually starts with the words "And after this."

The reputation of Xenophon among historians as a reliable source has fallen dramatically over the past few decades, and he is undoubtedly not in the same class as Thucydides as a historian, but he certainly is in the same class as a storyteller and he does complete the story of the war.
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24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A milestone, and recurrent justifications ...., 23 Nov 2004
By Bel Alcat "bel_78" (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: The Peloponnesian War (Classics) (Paperback)
"History of the Peloponnesian War" is, superficially, merely an account of a war that happened centuries ago, the Peloponnesian War, between Athenas and Sparta. Of course, you might think that the subject is trivial to you. After all, how important can a book like that be?. Well, if you were to think that, you would be enormously mistaken.
To start with, this book is a milestone you need to be aware of. Thucydides, its author, is very possibly the first modern historian. He tried to explain the causes of the Peloponnesian War, without reducing its complexity by saying that the gods had motivated it. Thucydides doesn't follow the easy path; instead, he searches those causes in human nature, and in power. He doesn't weave tales, but tries to write History.

It is rather astonishing how objective this Athenian was when he analyzed the war, and all that happened immediately before it. He examines methodically many events, paying special attention to facts. The author also gives his opinion from time to time, but he doesn't judge whether an action is good or evil: he merely shows that those that have power can use it as they see fit. Due to that, Thucydides is called by many the first realist theoretician. I was especially taken aback by how well he expresses his ideas regarding the fact that "power makes right" in the Melian debate. I don't agree with him, but I cannot deny that he makes a powerful case, and that his point of view is shared nowadays by many noteworthy thinkers.

It is important to point out that in "History of the Peloponnesian War" you will find a painstaking account of many things that actually happened, but also some speeches that weren't made by the actors, but could have been made by them. To explain that more clearly: Thucydides wrote some political dialogues and monologues that allow us to understand some aspects of the conflict (and many of his ideas) better. The introduction to this edition also highlights that the author sometimes made up some of the speeches (from the data he had), and was present when others were pronounced. My favorite speech is the one made by Pericles, in honor of the men who died during the war. In that discourse, he explains why those men fought and died to defend Athens, and what Athens meant not only for Athenians but also for Greece.

This book isn't easy to read, but it is well-worth the effort. The translation is quite good, so that will make your task a little easier. If you don't feel like reading this book all at once, try to read it little by little. The results will be the same, but you won't feel dismayed by the need of finishing it immediately.

Also, if you can, try to relate some of Thucydides themes to our modern world. You will find that easier that you might think, and it will make you pay more attention to what you are reading. You are likely to be very surprised, for example, at how similar some of nowaday's justifications for taking advantage of power without paying attention to justice are to those that Thucydides already made a long time ago. On the whole, I highly recommend this book :)

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The father of modern history?
Far too often, Herodotus takes this title, and it really should be applied to Thucydides rather than him. Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2006 by Laconfiraux

4.0 out of 5 stars A generally decent translation of an historical book - but..
...there is one thing that all potential readers, particularly those seeking to learn about the Peloponnesian war, should bear in mind. Read more
Published on 16 Jan 2006 by yprbest

4.0 out of 5 stars A perfect publication for the non-professional reader
The History of the Peloponnesian War is an incredible book. Not only an amazing story, but probably the best text for the study of International Relations ever written. Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars Man's greatest work of history
Thucydides masterpiece is a book without equal in its era. Though it lacks the fantastical and quaint explanations of Herodotus, with all his diversionary stories and charm, the... Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2004 by Tim Sherwin

5.0 out of 5 stars Thucydides the father of History
After reading Herodotus I enquired about reading Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian war. I was told it was 'a tough read'. Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2003 by Mr. M. P. Dalton

4.0 out of 5 stars The story of how an empire was lost through stupidity.
Thucydides is an unforgiving historian, who seems to hold all of Athens in equal contempt, with the exception of Perecles and, strangely, the turncoat Alcibiades. Read more
Published on 6 Nov 1999

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